Mickey's Travel Notebook: Part 1

The calendar has turned from summer to fall, meaning it's open gym season! All across the country, schools and programs are graciously giving coaches, scouts, and media personnel opportunities to see their student-athletes live in a competitive environment where they not only show off their skills but have the opportunity to meet players one-on-one in a more intimate setting. Over the past week and a half, I was able to visit three open gyms in the Connecticut area to get my eyes on lots of prospects and see firsthand the work being put in behind the scenes to see the progression of team building and improvement for the greater good. Welcome to part one of Mickey's Travel Notebook!   Westminster School (Simsbury, CT)   On Thursday, September 19th, I was able to make a stop in the evening at Westminster School. Walking into the gym, it was buzzing with energy and excitement, the perfect tone to set the tour on. I got to meet head coach David Pringle and I got to watch competitive five-on-five scrimmages for over an hour while being the only outsider in attendance. Here are my thoughts!   -2025 forward and Quinnipiac commit [player_tooltip player_id='1532439' first='Jayden' last='Reid'] was clearly the leader of the pack. As this was the first time I saw him live, I was not disappointed. The athleticism he possesses shows through, and he is a smooth operator on the floor and with the ball in his hands. He was making quick reads to open shooters on his drives and was comfortable hitting shots from deep off the dribble, which was great to see for the 6-foot-9 stud.   -2026 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2465133' first='Ethan' last='Griffin'] played with the most effort and grit out of anyone on the floor. He was running back and forth, competing on both ends. He was getting to the rim and finishing with powerful dunks. He was moving his feet well defensively and using his length to contest shots at the basket. By the end of the session, he was dripping with sweat and his impact could not be denied.   -2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2470859' first='Sonny' last='Batchelor'] continues to impress on both sides, but his defense really stood out to me personally. His long arms and rabid mindset were on full display, and he was constantly getting on opposing ball handlers and creating turnovers and chaos. It was like watching a hawk find its prey, the battle was over before it even begun. Offensively, he still showed off his off-the-dribble shooting talent and soft touch at the cup on drives to the basket.   -2025 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1532483' first='Nate' last='McCleery'] is a really solid basketball player. What stood out to me most was his finishing around the rim. Every time he plowed through the defense and put the ball on the glass, it felt like the ball went straight through the net. He was shooting the ball effortlessly from deep and his toughness showed brightly in this setting. He would be a great get for any program and shouldn't be overlooked.   The Loomis Chaffee School (Windsor, CT)   On Wednesday, September 25th, I made it to another nighttime open gym at the Loomis Chaffee School. I was unfortunately unable to meet head coach Russell Battistoni, but I was greeted nicely by one of the assistants present. Several coaches were in attendance for this one which included Central Connecticut, Bates, Saint Anselm, and others. Multiple five-on-five scrimmages took place for nearly an hour and here are my thoughts on what I witnessed!   -2025 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1532438' first='Charlie' last='O'Sullivan'] continued to show his offensive prowess at his 6 foot 10 size. He was consistently hitting shots from the top of the key and showing his real potential as a competent stretch four. His post-scoring was also cool and collected, creating space by hitting fadeaways on the baseline and taking advantage of smaller defenders. He was also very communicative on the floor and made his presence known to his teammates, showing his leadership skills that were most definitely appealing.   -2025 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1366895' first='J'Lin' last='Brown'] really knows how to run an offense and get everyone around him involved in a winning capacity. The driving and kicking ability through the lane was on point, and teammates were wide open to take easy shot attempts due to his fast decision-making. Defensively, he was very aggressive and putting on the pressure on the ball handler, closing off angles with his quick feet. Still a jump shot away from being fully unleashed.   -2026 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1213867' first='Nick' last='Sangermano'] and his outstanding floor spacing ability is still a sight to behold. Every time he was left open in the corners or anywhere around the three-point, he was knocking them down with a beautiful shooting stroke. Additionally, his driving to the rim in transition also left an impression on me, as he was finishing with either hand and using his strength and well-built body to his benefit.   -2027 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2470973' first='Greyson' last='Pierce'] has a very bright mind and that IQ was evident during my first live look at his game. He was taking the right shots at the right opportunities, regardless of whether they were going in or not. He was talking with his teammates during plays and after plays, always trying to get on the same page and eliminate mistakes as much as he could. A very mature player for any age, but especially for a sophomore.   -2028 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2486597' first='Luca' last='Balducci'] was a player I was very excited to see live for the first time and I was left very happy by what I saw. His shooting skills were off the charts and he was dangerous when left open on the three-point line off the catch. As the ball handler, he pulled off a sweet crossover to create space to hit an off-the-dribble mid-range jumper and did it with relative ease. He will have no problem putting the ball in the hoop and should be heavily on people's radar.   Kent School (Kent, CT)   On Thursday, September 26th, I was able to make one more evening stop to visit Kent School, located in the pretty areas of rural Connecticut. When I walked into the facility, I met rookie head coach Tim McCarthy and watched the team thoroughly as they completed three-on-three and four-on-four scrimmages, as well as additional shooting drills for just over an hour while being the only person there for this open gym session. Here are my takeaways!   -2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1866236' first='Jeremiah' last='Carter'] continues to be the quiet jewel of the state of Connecticut and probably the entire New England region. His athletic gifts are just off the charts, playing above the rim and just throwing the ball down with fervor in both the half-court and full-court setting. His shooting off the dribble is still as quick and smooth as ever and his long arms were making a difference on the defensive end. A sweet silky talent who should star for this young and upcoming team.   -2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2470947' first='Rowan' last='Santos'] combines physicality with skill, which makes him such an intriguing scorer. He used his body well on his drives and loves to take on contact at the basket. He was creating space for himself in the mid-range, easily getting to his spots and hitting shots with lower-release mechanics. He also was competing on the boards and the effort he showed could not be understated.   -2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2568427' first='Alex' last='Thiery'] was dominant during the shooting drills and the smoothness of his jumper was apparent. He was thriving off movement and he had no issues hitting shots all over the perimeter. The shooting also translated during the scrimmages and should have no issues doing his part on the floor as the rest of his game matures with time.   -2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2633549' first='Nathaniel' last='Howell'] was an unknown quantity to me coming into the open gym, and I was left a fan of what he brought to the table. He was also shooting the lights out in the scrimmages and taking confident shots well beyond the three-point line. His body is burly with strength and he took advantage of it, being a bowling ball towards the basket in the half-court. Additionally, he made smart decisions and looked poised throughout. A truly fascinating prospect who will be on my radar going forward.

The calendar has turned from summer to fall, meaning it's open gym season! All across the country, schools and programs are graciously giving coaches, scouts, and media personnel opportunities to see their student-athletes live in a competitive environment where they not only show off their skills but have the opportunity to meet players one-on-one in a more intimate setting. Over the past week and a half, I was able to visit three open gyms in the Connecticut area to get my eyes on lots of prospects and see firsthand the work being put in behind the scenes to see the progression of team building and improvement for the greater good. Welcome to part one of Mickey's Travel Notebook!